Issue 512 | 30 March 2020

This issue we focus on the Coronavirus pandemic – the unprecedented crisis sweeping across the world, of which Europe is now the epicentre: We feature MEP commentary on COVID-19 from Andrea Cozzolino (IT, S&D), Romeo Franz (DE, Greens/EFA) and Victor Negrescu (RO, S&D).

We take a look at the EU’s recently-unveiled Industrial Strategy package, featuring the head of the European Commission’s DG GROW, Gwenole Cozigou, on what MEPs can expect from the package, while MEPs Patrizia Toia (IT, S&D) and Angelika Niebler (DE, EPP) look at how the EU can support Europe’s industrial sector during and after the Coronavirus crisis.

The EU’s next research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe, is also in focus this issue, with European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, explaining how the new programme will support Europe’s research sector, and MEPs Christian Ehler (DE, EPP), Ivars Ijabs (LV, RO) and Maria da Graça Carvalho (PT, EPP) also giving their take on the proposal.

Also in this issue: Miriam Dalli (MT, S&D) and Alicia Homs Ginel (ES, S&D) preview World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, and Martin Hojsík (SK, RE) and Irena Joveva (SL, RE) discuss antimicrobial resistance. Meanwhile, Kateřina Konečná (CZ, GUE/NGL) talks about affordable medicines, the head of the Commission’s DG REGIO, Normunds Popens, discusses EU Cohesion Policy, Sandra Pereira (PT, GUE/NGL) raises awareness of Europe’s housing crisis, and Saskia Bricmont (BE, Greens/EFA) addresses the upcoming Children’s Rights Strategy.